Do 50% of Marriages Really End in Divorce?

Posted on 04.16.15

One common stat that people love to throw around is that half of all marriages end in divorce. But is this really true? The fact of the matter is that divorce has been trending down for quite some time, and even then, the stats were somewhat misleading. Therefore people considering marriage should think they are essentially flipping a coin when it comes to the length of the marriage.

Even when divorce rates were high in the 70s and 80s, the 50% number was somewhat misleading. This is because some people get multiple divorces while others stayed married for their lifetime. This pushed up the divorce rate even though many marriages were still strong.

But even accounting for that, divorce rates are down and have continued to trend down. This is due to a number of factors. One, Millennials and Generation X generally chose to get married later in life than Baby Boomers. In the 70s, it was not uncommon for people to get married in their early 20s. Now, many people wait until their late 20s or later before their first marriage. This means people are more established in their lives before settling down.

Another is that there isn’t as much pressure in general to marry, especially for women. There used to be something of a stigma for a woman to be unmarried for too long. Now, as women go to college and have careers outside of the home, they generally want to work for a few years before settling down and starting a family.

Even with divorce rates down, many marriages still will not last a lifetime. A divorce attorney can help with emotional process and help you get the fresh start you need.

If you are in the West Palm Beach area or anywhere in South Florida, contact the Law Offices of James S. Cunha. Call us today to schedule a consultation.